This post was updated Aug. 25 at 5:00 p.m.

With fun lyrics and flowy instrumentals, Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet” surpasses its shortcomings.

The American singer and actress released her sixth studio album, “Short n’ Sweet,” Friday, following her two hit singles “Espresso” and “Please Please Please.” The 12-track album stays true to its name, lasting only 36 minutes, but with its punchy lyrics and new country-tinged sound, the album was created to be remembered. As relatable as ever, Carpenter’s album provides an honest perspective of romantic relationships as she dives into the disappointments, warnings and excitement in regard to the men in her life.

The album opens up with the strum of an electric guitar on “Taste” and continues with spunky lyrics as Carpenter confidently sings of the impact she left on an ex. With themes that appear reminiscent of Olivia Rodrigo’s 2021 single “deja vu,” Carpenter smugly sings, “You’ll just have to taste me when he’s kissin’ you.” Similarly, her song “Coincidence” follows the theme of Rodrigo’s unreleased “Strange,” as Carpenter calls out her lover’s lies. The song tells the story of a partner who sneaks around and lies to Carpenter while running to another woman. “What a surprise, your phone just died / Your car drove itself from LA to her thighs,” she muses along with the plucking of an acoustic guitar.

As expected, Carpenter’s sexy, fun and flirty lyrics are sprinkled throughout every song, with too many memorable lyrics to count. Though these new tracks don’t quite stack up to the precision of “Nonsense” from her last album, Carpenter is still able to skillfully balance her coquettish lines with feelings of vulnerability as she warns men not to hurt her while also wishing to stay in their minds. In the country-heavy “Slim Pickins,” she expresses her frustration for this conflicting desire for intimacy, singing “This boy doesn’t even know / The difference between ‘there,’ ‘their’ and ‘they are’ / Yet he’s naked in my room.” Carpenter’s soft vocals are highlighted behind the simple guitar as she shares her disappointment in the underwhelming dating pool in which she finds herself.

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Regardless of the pitfalls of her relationships, optimism shines through in the album, with standout songs such as “Juno” that exude an excited approach to physical intimacy. As the song opens with a 2000s-sounding thrum of guitar, Carpenter boldly invites a partner to “Hold me and explore me” as she belts about the possibility of falling in love.

As with her previous album, 2022’s “emails i can’t send,” Carpenter’s songs on “Short n’ Sweet” detail the men who have wronged her. Yet, she remains hopeful as she confidently presents her desire for physical intimacy. Her lyrical openness to her audience remains a strong suit of her artistry, providing relatable experiences for listeners to sing along to.

The album is not without its faults, though, as the ordering of the latter half of the album creates a disruptive flow between the upbeat and calmer songs. As the album reaches its midpoint with “Bed Chem,” the romantic jazz instrumentals set a tone of seduction as Carpenter talks about the sexual chemistry between her and a partner. Audiences sense a turn toward the album’s mellower vibe when they hear the slightly out-of-place Shakespearean lyrics in the mix.

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However, as the record jarringly transitions to “Espresso,” audiences are thrown back into the catchy summer energy of the front half of the album before switching abruptly to a much slower and stripped-down “Dumb & Poetic,” which discusses the lack of communication in her relationship. Given the shot of energy “Espresso” provides listeners, it would have been better off nestled between the more cheerful tracks of the album.

With fans calling “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” the “songs of the summer,” audiences can’t help but feel that early summer may have been a better fit for the release of the album. The calm and cozy energy of the onset of pumpkin spice season may cause less of an urge to revisit the bright and carefree songs on the album.

Ironically, as the album reaches its end with “Don’t Smile,” Carpenter hums “Don’t smile because it happened, baby / Cry because it’s over,” symbolizing the end of the album and possibly the summer season. The lo-fi instrumentals featured in the song, which are fitting for the chill mood of fall, evoke nostalgia for the feeling of being wanted, as Carpenter reveals, “I want you to miss me.” These production choices show thoughtfulness behind the sounds anchoring each song. With a variety of genres mixed into the predominantly pop album, Carpenter’s songs are each able to tell their own story, even when they share similar themes.

After much anticipation, “Short n’ Sweet” reveals Carpenter’s late nights working as a singer have definitely paid off.